Real Madrid formally began their electoral process on Thursday, when President Florentino Perez declared his decision to call elections in which he will run.
Candidates must submit their candidacies during a 10-day period, until May 23, according to Madrid.
Among the prerequisites for becoming a candidate are 20 years of club membership and a guarantee of 187 million euros ($219 million), equivalent to 15% of the club’s yearly budget, backed by personal assets.
Perez, who was re-elected unopposed for a four-year term in January 2025, revealed his intention to run again during a news conference on Tuesday.
Spanish media reports that Enrique Riquelme, the president of the water and energy group Cox, is considering entering the race.
According to a letter published by several outlets in Spain, the renewable energy businessman asked Perez for more time to potentially prepare a candidacy.
“When I ran in the 2000 elections, I didn’t ask for more time; I ran and I won,” said Perez in an interview on television channel La Sexta on Wednesday.
If there are several candidates, the electoral board will declare the date and location of the elections in due order.
If no one else runs, Perez, 79, will be re-elected, just as he was in 2013, 2017, 2021, and 2025.
The Spanish billionaire was elected president of Madrid in 2000, leading the club through the Galáctico era until stepping down in 2006.
Since Perez’s return in 2009, Madrid has won five Spanish league crowns and an incredible six European cups, among other accolades.
